The dates for the 2022 edition of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain have been confirmed, with the 18th edition of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race scheduled to finish on the Isle of Wight next September.
Professionals will take to the start line in Aberdeenshire on Sunday 4th September 2022, with the major event concluding here on the Isle of Wight for the first time on Sunday 11th September.
The event is expected to provide a significant economic boost to a wide range of sectors on the Island such as accommodation, hospitality and retail. The benefit could be as much as £4million, with a single stage attracting upwards of 150,000 spectators – but at a cost of £340,000. The Isle of Wight will also benefit from live TV coverage on ITV4 and Eurosport.
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Member for regeneration and tourism, has said:
“This is a great opportunity to showcase the Island and everything we have to offer on live national and international TV through the power of sport. The Isle of Wight is well known for its sailing heritage and it’s also a brilliant place to ride a bike thanks to the unique and distinctive coastline and scenery.
“As well as providing a welcome boost to the local economy, the Tour of Britain is a fantastic sports event that inspires more people to get out on their own bikes, which is great for everyone’s health and wellbeing. We will be working closely with the Tour organisers and other partners over the coming months to prepare for the event”.
The Isle of Wight stage of the Tour has been brought about thanks to the work of the previous Conservative administration.
The last major cycling event held locally was the Pearl Izumi Tour series in 2015. Before that it was the cross-Europe Sealink International in 1983 and the Isle of Wight Series 2 years later, but the Tour of Britain will dwarf all 3 events in terms of scale.
It’s understood that the date for the 2022 Isle of Wight Classic Car Extravaganza is up in the air due to a clash with this major event. Organisers of the car show are liaising with officials to confirm next year’s event.
More details of the 2022 event will be announced in the coming weeks ahead of the launch of the route in the Spring.
You can watch a recap of the 2021 AJ Bell Tour of Britain, won by Wout van Aert, below.
Excellent news, will be amazing to watch
Great, precedent now set for major road closures and local upheaval so it is looking promising for the motorcycle road racing to be approved….
Anybody know what ‘The Isle of Wight Challenge’ car event is?
They’re also claiming that they’ll close some roads that same weekend.
Isnt that the time attack thing on sandown seafront
It’s also the Southampton Boat Show so people will want unblocked ferry access.
Maybe they could do a workshop on how to use traffic lights correctly.
I hope they have finished the collapsed drain at Puckpool before they get here?
It will be fun seeing them coming down the hills to Ryde seafront, I can’t see anywhere else that could accommodate it?
So, satisfied the music goers, soon to satisfy lycra lovers and car racers in Sandown so about time motorcycles had there turn.